Counting the cost of the storm-force gales across Bradford

Homes and businesses across the district are counting the cost after stormforce gales wreaked havoc across Bradford and its outlying areas.

Weather watchers are predicting a lull from strong gusts with a day of heavy rain due today and winds reaching a 21mph at their peak.

One Bradford resident caught up in the drama was mum-of-three-sons Tahira Khanum, who thought it was an earthquake when a tree on Allerton Road uprooted and smashed into her home, knocking off its top corner and satellite dish bringing down wooden eaves and masonry into her garden.

The thud cracked windows at the front of the detached four-storey house, terrifying Mrs Khanum, who leapt from her sofa. Her shocked son, who was studying upstairs at the time, was so alarmed he rang the police.

Mrs Khanum said: “The whole house shook – and it’s a big house. I thought it was an earthquake. It was scary. I’ve never moved so fast!”

Pensioner David Sereika said a 120ft tree that crashed into his garden was a near-miss for Thornbury Medical Centre. The 65-year-old, of Morley Avenue, said he has been warning people for years that the trees on land at the back of his garden were a danger.

The fallen tree demolished a metal fence in its path, covering part of Mr Sereika’s garden, crossing onto his neighbour's land and then reaching into a garden on the next street.

Supermarket chain Morrisons has confirmed the tree was on its land and it was now checking other trees nearby.

In East Morton another tree had crash-landed in a private property’s garden in Millstream Close – and not for the first time from nearby woodland.

Neighbour Michael Dickinson, 53, who sent in photos to the Telegraph & Argus, said: “This isn’t the first time a tree has damaged his property.”

More trees were down around the district and in the Skipton area with the most serious incident when two cars hit a tree in the road near Twin Lock Garden Centre, Gargrave.

Away from tree damage, pupils were due back at St John the Evangelist school in Wibsey today after a day off because of wind damaging its roof.

A Bradford Council spokesman said: “We received ten calls to report damage to trees, as well a handful of calls about damage to property caused by the severe weather in the district.

“Considering the severity of the wind we would have anticipated more damage so fortunately appear to have been spared the worst.

Anyone concerned about particular trees can report them on (01274) 431000.

sorrow&amp;anger wrote:
The Prime Minister said that people won't have to pay for sandbags, so why does the Council say you have to buy your own?

Another one of Cllr Thornton's money making schemes?

council have been told not to charge for the sandbags, the gov has that covered. price of sand has NOT gone up, never mind rocketed. my inquiry where i have bought sand before, last time was last summer, was still same price per bag

[quote][p][bold]sorrow&anger[/bold] wrote:
The Prime Minister said that people won't have to pay for sandbags, so why does the Council say you have to buy your own?
Another one of Cllr Thornton's money making schemes?[/p][/quote]council have been told not to charge for the sandbags, the gov has that covered. price of sand has NOT gone up, never mind rocketed. my inquiry where i have bought sand before, last time was last summer, was still same price per bagjohnhem